Steam cracking of hydrocarbons: 5. effect of thiophene on reaction kinetics and coking

The effect of thiophene on the kinetics and selectivity of the conversion of hydrocarbons by steam cracking was studied in a stainless steel tubular reactor with relatively large inner surface. Heptane was selected as a model and decomposed at 700 OC and 100 kPa with a mass ratio of steam to feed of 3:l. The rate of decomposition increased about 14% if 0.1 and 0.5% mass of thiophene was added, but was unchanged if 1 % was present. The influence of thiophene on the selectivity of the conversion of heptane to ethene appeared to depend on the residence time. The effect of thiophene on the formation of coke was investigated in the pyrolysis of a reformer raffinate in a stainless steel flow reactor at 820 OC, without steam. Coking is lessened with increasing amounts of thiophene in the feed (0.05-0.5 % mass). Reaction mechanisms are suggested.